Device for removing ink from fountain pens



Oct 2, 1951 P. M. REsslNGER 2,569,690

DEVICE FOR REMOVING INK FROM FOUNTAIN PENS Filed NOV. 22, 1948 y2/immPatented Oct. 2, `1951 DEVICE FOR REMOVIN G INK FROM FOUNTAIN PENS PaulM. Ressinger, Highland Park, Ill. Application November 22, 1948, SerialN o. 61,336

3 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for removing ink tromfountain pens'. One purpose is to provide such a device in which the inkin a fountain pen may centrifugally be removed.

Another purpose is to provide ready and manually operated means forcentrifugally removing ink from fountain pens.

Another purpose is to provide a structure which is simple and easy tohandle, and which may be installed on a counter or at a place convenientto a salesman for removing ink from fountain pens preparatory to thefilling of the pens with some different ink.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of thespecification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagram- Vmaticaly in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a partial rear view;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the structure shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 3-3 of Figure2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a detail.

Referring to the structure as shown in the drawings, I generallyindicates any suitable base or suport. It may be a board, for example,which may be positioned upon a counter. Mounted on the board is anysuitable base which, in the present instance, is shown as a bracket 2having a bottom ilange 3 through which may pass securing screws 4. 5 isa hub at the top of the bracket or support 2. 6 is a bearing sleeve.

Rotatable within the sleevey is a shaft l to which is secured a crank 8by any suitable member 9 through which may pass a securing or set screwIIJ. II is any suitable handle which is preferably rotatable in relationto the crank 8. I2 is a rotor element mounted on and rotatable rwith theshaft 1, and rotatable at relatively high speed in response to manualrotation of the crank 8. As the operator rotates the crank, the handle II rotates and thus prevents binding or muscular resistance.

Extending outwardly from the rotor I2 is a radius member I3, shown ashaving a pair oi rings I4, I5 lined with suitable material such asrubber or a rubber substitute, as at I6, Il. It will be understood thata fountain pen I8 may be inserted through the two rings, and isfrictionally held in the position shown, by the rings I6 and Il. Sincethe ring I I is of smaller diameter than 2 the ring I6, it serves as alimit for preventing centrifugal outward movement of the pen I 8.

20 is any suitable ink-receiving shell which may have therewithinfibrous material or blotting material, as at 2I. The cap 20 may beprovided with bayonet slots 22, adapted to receive any suit able pin 23on the exterior of the ring I5. Thus the cap may be readily applied orremoved. In the form herein shown I illustrate two of the slots 22, andtwo of the outwardly extending pins 23, as will be clear from Figures 5and 6.

My device is particularly adaptable for use in the sale of fountain penink. For example, where a brand of pens is on sale, the dealer may wishto sell to the users of these pens the ink which is appropriate for suchpens. However, the user in refilling the pen may have used some lessadvantageous ink, the dealer or salesman therefore wishes to clear fromthe interior of the pen the improper ink previously inserted. The fountain pen is simply inserted in the position in which it is shown inFigures l and 3, with the cap removed, and the user then rotates thefountain pen by rotation of the handle II. The result is a very rapidrotation of the pen, which is effective to cause the ink to flow fromthe interior of the pen through the point and into the interior of thecap 20, and into the ink-receiving material 2|.

Whereas I have shown an ink-receiving cap secured to the rotor, it willbe understood that I nd it equally practical to provide a largercontainer or receiver for the ink which may be, for example, in the formof a splatter band or wall, which may be lined with any appropriateink-absorbing or receiving material. What is important is that I providesome means for Areceiving the ink which is centrifugally expelled fromthe interior of the pen as a result of the rotation of the pen around acenter which is remote from the point'l of the pen. Whereas I have showna direct drive, it will be understood that I may use any suitablegearing in order to multiply the movement or rotation of the pen inresponse to rotation of the manual member. It will be understood, also,that whereas I iind it advantageous to employ a manually operateddevice, I may equally practically use a motor, for example, a smallelectrical motor controlled by any suitable switch. However, since therotating means do not, of themselves, form part of the presentinvention, they are not herein shown.

It will be realized that Whereas I have described and shown a practicaland operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in size,

shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spiritof my invention. I therefore Wish my drawings to be taken as, in a broadsense, illustrative or diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to theparticular disclosure of the present description and drawings. For eX-ample, the actual mechanism for rotating the fountain pen may be widelyvaried, and, as above pointed out, motor means maybe substituted for themanual means.

It will be understood that, whereas, under some circumstances, it may bepreferred to rotate the pen-carrying rotor about a horizontalV axis, Ido not wish my claims to be so limited, sincelcenA trifugal force, notgravity, is the factor which" removes the ink from the pen.

I claim:

1. In a centrifugal device for removing' ink" from fountain pens, abase, a rotor mountedion Number. Name Date 348,316-- 1 Cabble Aug. 31,1886 950,741l Berryv Mar.'1, 191:0`

25 2,256,663 Brewer Sept'. 23, 1941 2,269,859. Owen` Jan. 13, 1942 onsaid rotor with the point of the pen remote from the axis of rotation ofthe rotor, and a driving,r connection for the rotor.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a receiverfor the ink expelled centrifugally from the pen, said receiver beingmounted on and rotatable with said rotor.

3. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including'areceiver forthe ink expelled centrifugally from the pen, said receiver 'beingremovably mounted on and rotatable with said rotor and having an openend aligned with the point of ythepen and-ink-absorbing and receivingmaterial in said receiver.

PAUL M. RESSINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in ,the llefofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS W01fSk11 Feb. 8, 194:9

